Space.com reported the launch as follows. “A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 22 Starlink internet satellites to orbit this evening (Oct. 17).
The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station today at 8:39 p.m. EDT (0039 GMT on Oct. 18). The rocket’s first stage came back to Earth, touching down at sea on the drone ship Just Read the Instructions about 8.5 minutes after launch. It was the 16th flight for this particular rocket’s first stage — one shy of the company’s reuse record, which was set just last month. SpaceX has launched more than 70 orbital missions in 2023, most of which have been dedicated to building out the company’s Starlink mega-constellation.
Starlink, which beams internet service down to customers around the world, currently consists of nearly 4,900 operational satellites, and the number keeps growing, as tonight’s launch showed.”
Please use the following spaceX.com link for a replay of the launch and description of the mission.
Home